Datastorm Technologies, Inc., was a computer software company that existed from 1986 until 1996. Bruce Barkelew and Thomas Smith founded the company to develop and publish ProComm, a general purpose communications program for personal computers.[1] ProComm flourished in the pre-World Wide Web world, when personal computers used modems to connect over telephone lines with other individual computers, online services such as CompuServe, bulletin board systems (BBSs), Telnet and Gopher sites, and the like.[2] Datastorm was the first company to grow from a shareware publisher into a large commercial software publisher.[3] ProComm 2.4.3 for MS-DOS is still available as shareware.
Based on the program's popularity, Barkelew and Smith founded Datastorm Technologies Inc. in 1986 to build a full-fledged company around the product. The founders chose Columbia, Missouri, as the company's headquarters because of the relatively low cost of living and to tap into the pool of programmers graduating from the University of Missouri's computer science department.[4] Datastorm financed its growth by reinvesting its earnings rather than through outside investors.[4] In 1992, they were ranked 376 in the Inc. 500.[5]
The company produced a combination 16/32-bit Procomm Plus for Windows, which included an early web browser called Web Zeppelin. Procomm Plus for Windows supported the remote imaging protocol (RIP) graphic terminal language. This enabled display of higher-resolution images than the ANSI escape codes that most bulletin board systems used at the time. In November 1993, the data transmission program reached the number one ranking on PC Magazine's list of top retail software.[6]
In 1995, Datastorm sued Excalibur Communications over software infringement.[7] Datastorm became the first company to sue a vendor for infringement of its software using the shareware model.[3]
Datastorm grew through 40 consecutive profitable quarters, then was acquired by Quarterdeck in 1996 for over US$70 million.[8] Quarterdeck was later purchased by Symantec. Support for the last release of Procomm, version 4.8, was discontinued in 2002.[9]
^Hodges, Judith; Melewski, Deborah (July 1, 1993). . Software Magazine. Archived from the original on June 11, 2014. Retrieved January 13, 2014.
^. Motley Fool. September 26, 1996. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved December 21, 2006.
^ abcCallahan, Michael E. (1997). . Shareware Industry Awards Foundation. Archived from the original on November 19, 2008.
^ abSanford, Robert (March 2, 1992). "Taking The Software World by STORM". St Louis Post Dispatch. Retrieved December 21, 2006.
^Manglesdorf, Martha E. (October 1, 1992). "Behind the Scenes". Inc. Retrieved December 21, 2006.
^PC Magazine Top Retail Software Rankings. Vol. 12 (Network ed.). Ziff Davis, Inc. November 23, 1993. p. 31.
^Aguilar, Judge (June 7, 1995). "DATASTORM TECHNOLOGIES, INC., Plaintiff, v. EXCALIBUR COMMUNICATIONS, INC., Defendant". United States District Court, N.D. California. Retrieved December 21, 2006.[dead link]
^"News Briefs". Software Magazine. May 1, 1996. Retrieved December 21, 2006.
^"Symantec Knowledge Base". Symantec = February 28, 2002. Retrieved September 24, 2007.
^Dvorak, John C. (October 18, 1997). . Archived from the original on March 6, 2014.
August 22, 2023
datastorm, technologies, computer, software, company, that, existed, from, 1986, until, 1996, bruce, barkelew, thomas, smith, founded, company, develop, publish, procomm, general, purpose, communications, program, personal, computers, procomm, flourished, worl. Datastorm Technologies Inc was a computer software company that existed from 1986 until 1996 Bruce Barkelew and Thomas Smith founded the company to develop and publish ProComm a general purpose communications program for personal computers 1 ProComm flourished in the pre World Wide Web world when personal computers used modems to connect over telephone lines with other individual computers online services such as CompuServe bulletin board systems BBSs Telnet and Gopher sites and the like 2 Datastorm was the first company to grow from a shareware publisher into a large commercial software publisher 3 ProComm 2 4 3 for MS DOS is still available as shareware DataStorm Technologies Inc TypePrivateIndustryData transmission amp Dial up Internet accessFounded1986FoundersBruce BarkelewThomas SmithDefunct1996HeadquartersColumbia Missouri United StatesProductsProComm Plus DOSProComm Plus WindowsHistory EditThe death of Andrew Fluegelman creator of PC Talk left a gap in the offerings of dial up communications and terminal emulation software Bruce Barkelew and Tom Smith computer science students at the University of Missouri formed PIL Software Systems in 1985 to develop ProComm They distributed the program as shareware through bulletin board systems Based on the program s popularity Barkelew and Smith founded Datastorm Technologies Inc in 1986 to build a full fledged company around the product The founders chose Columbia Missouri as the company s headquarters because of the relatively low cost of living and to tap into the pool of programmers graduating from the University of Missouri s computer science department 4 Datastorm financed its growth by reinvesting its earnings rather than through outside investors 4 In 1992 they were ranked 376 in the Inc 500 5 The company produced a combination 16 32 bit Procomm Plus for Windows which included an early web browser called Web Zeppelin Procomm Plus for Windows supported the remote imaging protocol RIP graphic terminal language This enabled display of higher resolution images than the ANSI escape codes that most bulletin board systems used at the time In November 1993 the data transmission program reached the number one ranking on PC Magazine s list of top retail software 6 In 1995 Datastorm sued Excalibur Communications over software infringement 7 Datastorm became the first company to sue a vendor for infringement of its software using the shareware model 3 Datastorm grew through 40 consecutive profitable quarters then was acquired by Quarterdeck in 1996 for over US 70 million 8 Quarterdeck was later purchased by Symantec Support for the last release of Procomm version 4 8 was discontinued in 2002 9 Awards Edit1989 BYTE Distinction Award 10 1992 Dvorak PC Telecommunications Excellence Award 11 1997 Shareware Industry Awards Shareware Hall of Fame 3 References Edit Hodges Judith Melewski Deborah July 1 1993 Top 100 Profiles of the Leading Independent Software Companies Software Magazine Archived from the original on June 11 2014 Retrieved January 13 2014 Fool Sells Short QDEK Motley Fool September 26 1996 Archived from the original on September 27 2007 Retrieved December 21 2006 a b c Callahan Michael E 1997 Shareware Industry Awards Hall of Fame Shareware Industry Awards Foundation Archived from the original on November 19 2008 a b Sanford Robert March 2 1992 Taking The Software World by STORM St Louis Post Dispatch Retrieved December 21 2006 Manglesdorf Martha E October 1 1992 Behind the Scenes Inc Retrieved December 21 2006 PC Magazine Top Retail Software Rankings Vol 12 Network ed Ziff Davis Inc November 23 1993 p 31 Aguilar Judge June 7 1995 DATASTORM TECHNOLOGIES INC Plaintiff v EXCALIBUR COMMUNICATIONS INC Defendant United States District Court N D California Retrieved December 21 2006 dead link News Briefs Software Magazine May 1 1996 Retrieved December 21 2006 Symantec Knowledge Base Symantec February 28 2002 Retrieved September 24 2007 The BYTE Awards BYTE January 1989 p 327 Dvorak John C October 18 1997 Dvorak Awards for Excellence in Telecommunications Archived from the original on March 6 2014 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Datastorm Technologies amp oldid 1146641625, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
